Airlines tighten rules on portable devices after safety incidents

Airlines and regulators are reinforcing safety restrictions on portable electronic devices following recent incidents. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported 93 lithium‑battery related events in 2025 and 22 cases so far in 2026, prompting carriers such as Southwest to require powerbanks to be kept visible and to prohibit them in checked luggage. Japan has also banned powerbanks on board.

In a separate case, a flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca turned back to the United States after crew discovered a Bluetooth device named “BOMB” that remained active despite orders to disable all Bluetooth connections. The aircraft returned to Newark, passengers were evacuated, and a 16‑year‑old was detained. These events highlight growing concerns over the misuse of cheap powerbanks and even innocuous device names, leading airlines to enforce stricter compliance measures.